If done correctly, skills learned in CAP can be the fist in the door into some professions. It may attract people with skill sets that your unit needs. Not any worse than some of the "recruiting" (read "fishing") techniques that some units use.

I feel like it is a nice and legitimate way to get the word out to the community. I personally don't see anything wrong with it. In fact, it probably will work better than using flyers and other conventional recruiting tools due to the online outreach and networking aspect of it. I also like how you have tailored the posts to feature specific specialty tracks to target a more specific audience than just asking for "members". Well done!

I feel like it is a nice and legitimate way to get the word out to the community. I personally don't see anything wrong with it. In fact, it probably will work better than using flyers and other conventional recruiting tools due to the online outreach and networking aspect of it. I also like how you have tailored the posts to feature specific specialty tracks to target a more specific audience than just asking for "members". Well done!

Thank you. Wing PAO gets the credit, they demonstrated the tool and how to customize same. It is doing well!

Great job! FB can get the word out quicker than most any other method. People that know someone, who knows someone else that knows the perfect candidate for the job, will share the posts within hours, if not minutes. Fantastic use of technology.

Well, then they aren't "members", they are potential members, and anything from setting incorrect expectations, loss of interest, to BGC issues may preclude their joining.

Really? Maybe we should use your method. Tell us all what tool you used to bring three prospective seniors and a cadet in the door over the last three weeks? And tell us your onboarding process and experience, please. It sounds like you have a lot of knowledge of why people drop out of your pipeline. Maybe we can all learn from that experience!

Well, then they aren't "members", they are potential members, and anything from setting incorrect expectations, loss of interest, to BGC issues may preclude their joining.

Really? Maybe we should use your method. Tell us all what tool you used to bring three prospective seniors and a cadet in the door over the last three weeks? And tell us your onboarding process and experience, please. It sounds like you have a lot of knowledge of why people drop out of your pipeline. Maybe we can all learn from that experience!

Random chance and an active program are all the recruiting the unit currently does.

As to on-boarding - the organization has policies and regulations which sloe the roll on new members, and the reality of experience is that "potential members"join and stick at a rate of under 50%, probably closer to 25%, with a lot of variables in the mix.

People are well-intentioned and enthusiastic in the recruiting, and less so when it's check-writing time.

You might try being a little less defensive. Your OP was touting a "success" with no explanation, and there are legit concernsabout recruiting this way since you don't have "jobs" to offer, you have volunteer opportunities.

This is no different then when the military, especially the Navy, used to post "help wanted" ads in the classified sections of local papers and you had to call the office to find out it was a recruiter.

It's also possible you found the only 3 people in your area who will go for that type of ad. If I was looking for a job in finance and you wasted my search time, you wouldn't get a call for a joiner.

Sales people know it's conversions, not discussions that generate revenue.people

You might try being a little less defensive. Your OP was touting a "success" with no explanation, and there are legit concernsabout recruiting this way since you don't have "jobs" to offer, you have volunteer opportunities.

This is no different then when the military, especially the Navy, used to post "help wanted" ads in the classified sections of local papers and you had to call the office to find out it was a recruiter.

Really? Maybe you missed the whole VOLUNTEER part of the jobs post. OTOH all FOUR respondents indicated they were excited at the VOLUNTEER opportunity.

It's also possible you found the only 3 people in your area who will go for that type of ad. If I was looking for a job in finance and you wasted my search time, you wouldn't get a call for a joiner.

Well sure, with the attitude you appear to approach these ads with, I have little doubt you'd be upset. OTOH all FOUR of the respondents were excited at the volunteer opportunity. Again I appreciate your advice and wish you the very best of luck with your program.

Not to pick a nit, but all that happened with the cadet was he remembered he was still in CAP and needed to explore a transfer, which of course would also be pending the required membership board. The ads didn't recruit him.